“Earlier this summer, the Corporate Counselor covered amendments to Japan’s foreign direct investment laws that lowered the government approval threshold from 10% to a mere 1% for share acquisitions of publicly-traded companies that engage in a wide range of business activities deemed critical to Japan’s national security, unless an exemption applies. Attached for ease of reference is our June newsletter, which has been updated.
Our June newsletter specifically left for another day a discussion of the shareholder rights ramifications arising from the amendments to Japan’s foreign direct investment laws. This edition of the Corporate Counselor bridges this important gap.
The impact on shareholder rights arising from the amendments to Japan’s foreign direct investment laws is a game change for investments into Japan. The Japanese government now has veto rights over fundamental corporate governance rights throughout the investment cycle. The amendments apply retroactively, so overseas investors may no longer be able to effectively control their existing investments in Japan.”
Foreign Direct Investment Law Amendments — Post Acquisition Ongoing Obligations (September 2020)